Adjustable support device

Abstract

Provided herein is a support stand useful for supporting various objects which is simultaneously highly variable with respect to many possible attitudes or orientations and enjoys ease and simplicity of adjustment between possible positions. A support device according to the invention simultaneously has an extremely high degree of stability and structural strength in a desired position selected by the user, is aesthetically-appealing and is simplistic enough in design to permit low-cost manufacture, thus enabling easier widespread use in various professional fields. A device according to the invention is especially well-suited to support limbs of patients such as arms and legs while undergoing a medical treatment or therapy and has a wide degree of freedom with respect to the number of possible orientations it may take on.

1. A device useful for supporting various items, including portions of a human subject, which comprises:
 a) a base portion having a first leg portion and a second leg portion; 
 b) a first fixed vertical support having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said first vertical support is attached to said base portion such that said second end portion of said first fixed vertical support extends upwardly in a substantially perpendicular fashion from said base portion, said first fixed vertical support further comprising a hole disposed therethrough; 
 c) a first slidable vertical support having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a longest length dimension, and further comprising an interiorly-disposed slot oriented parallel to its longest length dimension, said first slidable vertical support being disposed so that its first end portion is in closer proximity to said base portion than its second end portion; 
 d) a second fixed vertical support having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said second vertical support is attached to said base portion such that said second end portion of said second fixed vertical support extends upwardly in a substantially perpendicular fashion from said base portion, said second fixed vertical support further comprising a hole disposed therethrough; 
 e) a second slidable vertical support having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a longest length dimension, and further comprising an interiorly-disposed slot oriented parallel to its longest length dimension, said second slidable vertical support being disposed so that its first end portion is in closer proximity to said base portion than its second end portion; 
 f) a first fastening means commonly disposed through said hole in said first fixed vertical support and said slot in said first slidable vertical support; 
 g) a second fastening means commonly disposed through said hole in said second fixed vertical support and said slot in said second slidable vertical support; 
 h) an upper support member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a length dimension, wherein said upper support member is pivotally attached to the second end portion of each of said slidable vertical supports at a different location along the length of said upper support member; 
 i) a surface disposed on said upper support member. 
 
   
   
     2. A device according to  claim 1  wherein said base portion is substantially u-shaped. 
   
   
     3. A device according to  claim 1  wherein said surface disposed on said upper support member comprises a cushion. 
   
   
     4. A device according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first fastening means and said second fastening means comprises a wing nut. 
   
   
     5. A device according to  claim 1  wherein at least one element selected from the group consisting of: slidable vertical supports, fixed vertical supports, base portion, leg portion and upper support member are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of: oak, pine, maple, poplar, spruce, mahogany, walnut, steel, aluminum, reinforced graphites, fiberglass, thermoset polymers, thermoplastic polymers, particleboard comprising sawdust, and polyurethanes. 
   
   
     6. A device according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one lateral stop means attached to a structural element selected from the group consisting of: a slidable vertical support and a fixed vertical support, wherein said lateral stop means effectively prevents lateral movement of a slidable vertical support and the fixed vertical support to which it is attached with respect to one another. 
   
   
     7. A device according to  claim 6  wherein said lateral stop means is attached to an edge portion of said structural element. 
   
   
     8. A device according to  claim 6  comprising two lateral stop means for each slidable vertical support and the fixed vertical support to which it is attached, wherein each of said two lateral stop means are attached to opposite edges of said structural element. 
   
   
     9. A device according to  claim 6  comprising two lateral stop means for each slidable vertical support and the fixed vertical support to which it is attached, wherein one of said two lateral stop means is attached to a slidable vertical support and wherein the remaining lateral stop means is attached to a fixed vertical support. 
   
   
     10. A device according to  claim 1  wherein the first end portion of at least one of said vertical supports is pivotally attached to said upper support member, and wherein said second end portion of at least one of said slidable vertical supports is attached to said base portion. 
   
   
     11. A device useful for supporting various items, including portions of a human subject, which comprises:
 a) a first, substantially-linear base portion; 
 b) a second, substantially-linear base portion oriented substantially-parallel to said first base portion; 
 c) a first leg portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said first leg portion is attached to said first base portion; and wherein said second end portion of said first leg portion is attached to said second base portion; 
 d) a second leg portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said second leg portion is attached to said first base portion and wherein said second end portion of said second leg portion is attached to said second base portion; 
 e) a first fixed vertical support having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said first vertical support is attached to said first base portion such that said second end portion of said first fixed vertical support extends upwardly in a substantially perpendicular fashion from said first base portion, said first fixed vertical support further comprising a hole disposed therethrough; 
 f) a first slidable vertical support having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a longest length dimension, and further comprising an interiorly-disposed slot oriented parallel to its longest length dimension, said first slidable vertical support being disposed so that its first end portion is in closer proximity to said first base portion than its second end portion; 
 g) a second fixed vertical support having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said second vertical support is attached to said base portion such that said second end portion of said second fixed vertical support extends upwardly in a substantially perpendicular fashion from said first base portion, said second fixed vertical support further comprising a hole disposed therethrough; 
 h) a second slidable vertical support having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a longest length dimension, and further comprising an interiorly-disposed slot oriented parallel to its longest length dimension, said second slidable vertical support being disposed so that its first end portion is in closer proximity to said first base portion than its second end portion; 
 i) a third fixed vertical support having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said third vertical support is attached to said second base portion such that said second end portion of said third fixed vertical support extends upwardly in a substantially perpendicular fashion from said second base portion, said third fixed vertical support further comprising a hole disposed therethrough; 
 j) a third slidable vertical support having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a longest length dimension, and further comprising an interiorly-disposed slot oriented parallel to its longest length dimension, said third slidable vertical support being disposed so that its first end portion is in closer proximity to said second base portion than its second end portion; 
 k) a fourth fixed vertical support having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said fourth vertical support is attached to said second base portion such that said second end portion of said fourth fixed vertical support extends upwardly in a substantially perpendicular fashion from said second base portion, said fourth fixed vertical support further comprising a hole disposed therethrough; 
 l) a fourth slidable vertical support having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a longest length dimension, and further comprising an interiorly-disposed slot oriented parallel to its longest length dimension, said fiourth slidable vertical support being disposed so that its first end portion is in closer proximity to said second base portion than its second end portion; 
 m) a first fastening means commonly disposed through said hole in said first fixed vertical support and said slot in said first slidable vertical support; 
 n) a second fastening means commonly disposed through said hole in said second fixed vertical support and said slot in said second slidable vertical support; 
 o) a third fastening means commonly disposed through said hole in said third fixed vertical support and said slot in said third slidable vertical support; 
 p) a fourth fastening means commonly disposed through said hole in said fourth fixed vertical support and said slot in said fourth slidable vertical support; 
 q) a first upper support member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a length dimension, wherein said first upper support member is pivotally attached to the second end portion of each of said first and said second slidable vertical supports at a different location along the length of said first upper support member; 
 r) a second upper support member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a length dimension, wherein said second upper support member is pivotally attached to the second end portion of each of said third and said fourth slidable vertical supports at a different location along the length of said second upper support member; and 
 s) a surface commonly disposed on said first and said second upper support members. 
 
   
   
     12. A device according to  claim 11  wherein said base portion is substantially rectangularly-shaped. 
   
   
     13. A device according to  claim 11  wherein said surface disposed on said upper support members comprises a cushion. 
   
   
     14. A device according to  claim 11  wherein at least one of said first fastening means comprises a wing nut. 
   
   
     15. A device according to  claim 11  wherein at least one element selected from the group consisting of: slidable vertical supports, fixed vertical supports, base portion, leg portion and upper support member are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of: oak, pine, maple, poplar, spruce, mahogany, walnut, steel, aluminum, reinforced graphites, fiberglass, thermoset polymers, thermoplastic polymers, particleboard comprising sawdust, and polyurethanes. 
   
   
     16. A device according to  claim 11  further comprising at least one lateral stop means attached to a structural element selected from the group consisting of: a slidable vertical support and a fixed vertical support, wherein said lateral stop means effectively prevents lateral movement of a slidable vertical support and the fixed vertical support to which it is attached with respect to one another. 
   
   
     17. A device according to  claim 16  wherein said lateral stop means is attached to an edge portion of said structural element. 
   
   
     18. A device according to  claim 16  comprising two lateral stop means for each slidable vertical support and the fixed vertical support to which it is attached, wherein each of said two lateral stop means are attached to opposite edges of said structural element. 
   
   
     19. A device according to  claim 16  comprising two lateral stop means for each slidable vertical support and the fixed vertical support to which it is attached, wherein one of said two lateral stop means is attached to a slidable vertical support and wherein the remaining lateral stop means is attached to a fixed vertical support. 
   
   
     20. A device according to  claim 11  wherein the first end portion of at least one of said vertical supports is pivotally attached to an upper support member, and wherein the second end portion of at least one of said slidable vertical supports is attached to one of said base portions.